I am in need of some clarification about King's so called "gold" lacquer.
Here is the color I am accustomed to seeing, when referring to as "gold" lacquer:
I just saw a restoration that was supposed to be done in the gold lacquer. Here is what it looks like:
While it does not look like "yellow" brass, it certainly doesn't look like the first picture. Is there something that happens to the lacquer in the aging process, or is the first picture called something besides "gold"?
That stuff is what I affectionately call 'Eastlake Orange'. It's a real bitch to get off and WILL NOT be touched with conventional paint/lacquer remover.
It does darken with age.
A word to the wise... if you plan to unsolder any parts of one of these horns... strip the lacquer off first as it will turn glass-like at soldering temperatures and will then have to be buffed or sanded off. Hot caustics or 'Easy-Off Oven Cleaner' is all I've found that will touch it.
The second picture looks like either modern conventional air-dry or epoxy lacquer. ... not the same stuff.
Modern clear lacquers can be tinted to resemble the 'old stuff' but it's literally impossible to match.
Last edited by Dan Schultz on Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker" http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
Z-Tuba Dude wrote:It is actually a "Cleveland".....I guess it was their student line?
It's King, H. N. White, Cleveland.... whatever. About the same stuff just different names for the same company.
Dan Schultz
"The Village Tinker" http://www.thevillagetinker.com" target="_blank
Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
TubaTinker wrote:That stuff is what I affectionately call 'Eastlake Orange'. It's a real bitch to get off and WILL NOT be touched with conventional paint/lacquer remover.
It does darken with age.
A word to the wise... if you plan to unsolder any parts of one of these horns... strip the lacquer off first as it will turn glass-like at soldering temperatures and will then have to be buffed or sanded off. Hot caustics or 'Easy-Off Oven Cleaner' is all I've found that will touch it.
The second picture looks like either modern conventional air-dry or epoxy lacquer. ... not the same stuff.
Modern clear lacquers can be tinted to resemble the 'old stuff' but it's literally impossible to match.
+1
Instructor of Tuba & Euphonium, Cleveland State University
Principal Tuba, Firelands Symphony Orchestra
President, Variations in Brass http://www.jcsherman.net
